The Australian share market has closed lower but pared back earlier heavy falls.There were losses among the miners and big banks as investors took profits after recent gains.
Southern Cross Electrical Engineering has booked a 17 per cent drop in interim net profit, which it says was the result contract signing delays on two major projects.
Qantas has rejected former prime minister Malcolm Fraser's claim it interfered in the case of two Australian businessmen languishing in detention in Dubai.
Developer Cedar Woods Properties expects a record profit this year after the Western Australian housing market underpinned a big jump in first half earnings.
Mining services and drilling group Ausdrill is confident of a stronger performance in the second half of the financial year, despite posting an 11.9 per cent drop in interim profit.
The Minerals Council of Australia is looking for a new chief executive officer following Mitch Hooke's decision to leave the organisation at the end of this year.
Atlas Iron is confident enough about iron ore demand to press on with production growth this year despite low prices contributing to a heavy full year loss.
Virgin Australia's first half profit has slumped by 56 per cent but it expects to improve its underlying performance despite challenging economic conditions.
The Australian sharemarket has opened almost 1.5 per cent weaker as former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's strong electoral showing sparked fears of eurozone instability.
Western Australia's business community says a pledge by Troy Buswell at this morning's debate with Ben Wyatt to increase the payroll tax threshold by $100,000 does not go far enough to ease pressure on companies. (Click through to watch the full debate).
US stocks closed sharply lower on Monday amid concerns that Silvio Berlusconi's strong showing in the Italian election could force a coalition government and spark fresh instability in the eu
Engine and fuel technology group Orbital Corporation has sold a 12 per cent stake in its Synerject LLC fuel injection systems joint venture to partner Continental Corporation for $US6 million.
Northern Minerals has announced a $26.6 million capital raising plan to fund the development of its Browns Range heavy rare earths project in the Northern Territory.
GR Engineering has won a $16 million contract with Saracen Mineral Holdings for engineering and construction works at the Carosue Dam gold mine near Laverton.
Seven Western Australian business representative groups have come together in a united front against payroll tax, urging whichever party wins next month's state election to “lift the tax on jobs”.
WHK Group, which owns accounting firm Crowe Horwath, is evaluating a merger proposal from SFG Australia, which owns accounting and financial planning firms including Western Pacific and Shadforth.
Property developer and fund manager Aspen Group says its review of operations is on track despite the company recording a statutory loss of $18.3 million for the half-year to December 31.
Engineering and construction contractor Decmil Group has continued its expansion into the Queensland market with an agreement to acquire Brisbane based Eastcoast Development Engineering.
The Australian Greens say the federal government is likely to run out of time to introduce major media reforms, including a large regulator for the sector, ahead of the election.
Chevron Australia has struck a deal with Beach Energy that will see the US energy giant spend at least million and potentially as much as million on two onshore gas exploration fields.
Engineering and construction firm Monadelphous Group has won a $260 million contract with Rio Tinto, for works at the Western Turner Brockman iron ore development in the Pilbara.
